VILAS COUNTY TURKEYS

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Turkeys in Vilas County! You bet!! Twenty years ago, a turkey in Wisconsin was a rare thing if there even were any. However, a few years back, the Wisconsin D.N.R. thought the introduction of turkeys was worth a shot. So as I understand it, they worked out a deal with some other states to trade Ruffed Grouse for turkeys. I believe Missouri, was one of the prime states they worked with. Apparently, they made several trades, and introduced them to several areas of Wisconsin. Well, it didn't take long and we began to find birds all over the Badger state. For this, the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources deserves a pat on the back, rather than the usual kick in the butt, that most folks give them when things don't go the way that they personally want.

I believe that most counties, if not all counties in Wisconsin have a spring turkey season, and the vast majority have a fall season. Spring seasons run from mid-April to late May, generally a 6 week season. Fall seasons covers the month of October, a 4 week season. During the spring season, the mating season for turkeys, the Tom's, the only legal bird at that time, become very vocal. They are normally hunted by visual observations or using an owl, crow, fox or other calls. You try to get them to respond with a gobble, so one can pin down their location. Once a gobbler, a male turkey, has been located, the task then is to get set up and use a decoy or two and try to call them in. This can be a real challenge, since these birds have eyes and ears that are unreal. If you make the slightest movement or sound, they are gone and they won't return.

In the fall, the normal approach is to find a flock, spook them out of the area, and wait for their return. Calls and decoys are again useful tools. Both toms and hens are legal in the fall. They are just as cautious in the fall as in the spring. Shotguns are the weapons of choice, so close range shots are the norm, most in the 30-40 yard range.

Vilas County has no fall season for turkeys, but we now have a spring season, and several turkeys were taken in 2006. It won't be long before we have a fall season. For those that have a need for both woods and water in the fall, Vilas County should be something to consider, as flocks of 20-30 birds have been showing up all over the county. Also, the fall has been known as an outstanding time to put a record class Musky of Walleye in the boat at Eagle River.

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